Accademia Bridge & Gallerie dell'Accademia
Ponte dell'Accademia / Gallerie dell'Accademia
The only wooden bridge over the Grand Canal. From the bridge, you can see Santa Maria della Salute, the most classic postcard view of Venice. At its southern end is the Gallerie dell’Accademia, which houses masterpieces of the Venetian school.
The Accademia Bridge was originally built as a temporary wooden bridge in 1933. It was kept because residents loved it, and its structure was renovated in 2018. It has a single span of 48 meters and connects the San Marco and Dorsoduro districts. From the top of the bridge, looking east, you can see the mouth of the Grand Canal, the huge dome of Santa Maria della Salute, and the lagoon beyond. This is one of Venice’s most photographed views, especially at sunset. At the southern end, the Gallerie dell’Accademia occupies a former charity confraternity and convent. It holds the most important collection of the Venetian school. Highlights include Bellini’s altarpieces, Giorgione’s “The Tempest,” Carpaccio’s cycle “The Legend of Saint Ursula,” Titian’s late “Pietà,” Veronese’s monumental “Feast in the House of Levi,” and works by Tintoretto and Tiepolo. Leonardo da Vinci’s “Vitruvian Man” is also here, though it is only displayed occasionally during special exhibitions because of conservation concerns. Admission is 15 euros. Hours are Tuesday–Sunday, 08:15–19:15, and Monday, 08:15–14:00. The museum is free on the first Sunday of every month. A five-minute walk from the museum is the Peggy Guggenheim Collection (modern art, 16 euros, closed Tuesdays). Farther east is the Basilica of Santa Maria della Salute (free, with a Titian work in its dome). Walking along the Zattere waterfront is where locals go to drink coffee and watch the Giudecca Canal. Tip: Visit the museum in the afternoon, watch the sunset from the bridge, and then have a Spritz in Campo Santa Margherita in Dorsoduro. Getting there: take Vaporetto Line 1 to Accademia Station. Tips: The museum is not large, but it has many masterpieces, so allow about 1.5 hours. The bridge gets crowded at sunset, so arrive early to secure a spot.
Opening hours
Bridge open all day; museum Tue–Sun 08:15–19:15, Mon 08:15–14:00
Nearby sights
- Peggy Guggenheim Collection
- Ca' Rezzonico
- Teatro La Fenice
- Santa Maria Gloriosa dei Frari
- Basilica di Santa Maria della Salute
- Scala Contarini del Bovolo
- Scuola Grande di San Rocco
- Giudecca